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Best of old model speakers under $1800 vs my Alons

I am looking for low cost speakers that were good when they were new but are now older today and in the price range of $1800 and less. I currently own Alon V MKIIs and was looking into the Viper series but my financial situation is currently limited so spending $3K and above is not an option now. I started thinking about older speaker models that I could enjoy and get by with for now. I am looking for input with 2 channel systems only. What is important to me is the sound. The sound should be musical, have frequency extension, air, focus, defined bass, soundstage, imaging, etc. I do really like the sound on my Alons but I need new tweeters so that is what has taken me down this path. While the Alons gave me a big soundstage, open sound, imaging, good bass, the tweeters were always a compromise as far as air and recessed sounding. The upgrade to Alnico tweeters is $1800 a pair! The bass on the Alons is powerful but slightly wooly sounding overall and at the slower side of bass response. My speakers went through a modification with Miller Sound which was a big step in the right direction. I am still considering another pair of Alons especially for the used prices but I am open to comments and suggestions. I do not like speakers that are not open or where you can hear the box. I'd like to stay at $1800 or less. Please also include information on getting replacement drivers or how substitute replacement drivers worked out. I can do any cross-over upgrades or driver surround repairs myself if you have those kinds of suggestions or Miller Sound can repair drivers as another option. My current system is Sony 707 APL HiFi modified transport into John Wright modified Museatex Bidat, Counterpoint SA-220 hybrid modified by Mike Elliott and myself or Museatex CAS-10 or Lafayette KT-550 power amps, and custom made Direct heated triode transformer coupled, transformer volume control 26 tube preamp (will be for sale commercially next month).

Some of the speakers I thought about considering are:

B&W 801s
Aerial 10Ts
Kef 107 - 107/2
Kef 105s
Kef 104/2
Alons
Vandersteen (while open I find them to be soft sounding in direct comparison to the Alons).
Meadowlark Heron, Heron i, Blue Heron, etc.

Thanks for your input and happy listening!
bigkidz

Showing 2 responses by rsimms

rsimms
150 posts
 
Bob, waht speakers have you heard that these speakers compete with?

I have been to three RMAF shows and the last one was in October. The Vandersteen 7s are better than the Philys, but the Philys might even be a little more transparent.

Bob
rsimms
150 posts
 
I would recommend the Philharmonic 1s. They are only $1600 new. They are easily the best speaker under $10k that I have heard. If you can stretch to $2k then you can get them with a RAAL tweeter instead of the standard Fountek. A problem is that it might be very hard to review them. Only a few have been sold so far. Another issue is that they are pseudo open baffle and you would need to be willing to play with position and dampening material with them to get them to their potential. They are totally transparent when set up properly.

http://philharmonicaudio.com/

Bob
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